Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Arab-Israeli Dispute; United Arab Republic; North Africa, Volume XIII

298. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Jones) to the Secretary of State¹

Washington, August 24, 1959.

SUBJECT

• Call on You by Arab Chiefs of Mission in Washington to Discuss Algeria

Discussion

The following Arab representatives in Washington will call on you on Tuesday, August 25, at 11:15 a.m. in Room 5100:

• Saudi Arabia: Ambassador Abdullah Al-Khayyal
• Morocco: Ambassador El-Mehdi Ben Aboud
• Lebanon: Ambassador Nadim Dimechkie
• United Arab Republic: Ambassador Mostafa Kamel
• Jordan: Ambassador Midhet Juma
• Iraq: Ambassador Ali Haider Sulaiman
• Sudan: Ambassador Osman al-Hadari
• Yemen: Chargé d’Affaires of Legation, Mr. Assayed Ahmad Ali Zabarah
• Tunisia: Secretary of Embassy, Mr. M’hamed Essaafi
• Libya: Second Secretary of Embassy, Mr. Mansur O. Mansur

Mr. Wilcox of IO, Mr. Sisco of UNP, Mr. Rockwell of NE and Mr. Porter of AH will also attend. While I have pointed out to the Saudi Ambassador² the desirability of avoiding excessive publicity for this meeting, the Arab Ambassadors have in the past talked rather freely with the press on emerging from similar joint discussions with the Secretary.

The Arab Chiefs of Mission will probably present you with a memorandum and some oral views on Algeria including: 1) US failure to take an unequivocal stand for Algerian independence is a repudiation of our traditional adherence to principles of self-determination, 2) continued French repression will push North Africa toward the Soviets, and 3) French use of American weapons against the Algerians is to be condemned.

Recommendations

It is recommended that in view of the President’s forthcoming trip to Europe, during which Algeria will be discussed, you avoid any substantive discussion of the Algerian problem, and that you comment along the following lines:

1. The views of the Arab representatives will be taken into account, within the context of US policy towards Algeria, which was reiterated as recently as last month: i.e. the US has long made known its deep concern over prolongation of the Algerian war, attaches highest importance to the need for a peaceful, democratic and just solution, and has always hoped France itself will be able to work out such a solution.

2. With regard to the UNGA debate on Algeria (if this is raised by the Arab representatives), the United States will be guided, in determining its position, by its desire to support any action which would tend to assist in achievement of a just solution, and to oppose any action which might pose obstacles to such a solution.³

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751S.00/8–2459. Confidential. Drafted by Thacher and Valdes; cleared by Cargo, Cameron, and Porter; and initialed by Jones and Herter.
2. He is Dean of the Arab League Diplomatic Corps. [Footnote in the source text.]
3. A memorandum of Herter’s conversation with the Arab Chiefs of Mission is in Department of State, Central Files, 751S.00/8–2559; a copy of the memorandum they left with him is in the Eisenhower Library, White House Office Files, Project “Clean Up.” Herter informed Alphand the Ambassadors had left a memorandum of their position and asked for more active U.S. participation in the Algerian situation, but had not mentioned the FLN. Herter had reiterated the U.S. position on Algeria and said he hoped the French would develop a solution. (Memorandum of conversation; Department of State, Central Files, 751S.00/8–2559)